John Adams, the second president of the United States made two statements relative to the people, government and the constitution. He said, “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion.  Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”  Richard Henry Lee said in regard to morality, “the experience of all time shows religion to be the guardian of morals.”

While the word religion can refer to many different beliefs, but the way the founders used it was in reference to God Almighty and his ways. Since the beginning of human life, a moral foundation has been the order of the day for all humans. Though humans are capable of following God’s moral order, they also have the ability to practice immorality which is the other behavior of humans. It is from those perspectives that John Adams and Richard Henry Lee made their statements. Absent adherence to a behavioral standard outside of the human experience, chaos is the inevitable result.

Millions of people do not believe in God and consequently they don’t follow God’s prescribed moral behavior. When events occur that directly affect them, they want government to solve the problem though they are often the cause of their dilemma. When someone does something that affects them personally, they want a government solution to the problem though there is no offense to the public at large. They conjure up a phony scenario and ask the government to create a law to solve their phony dilemma.

Paul wrote in Romans 2:14-15 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)  The Gentiles had a conscience and tried to follow God according to what they knew. Noah and Abraham also followed what they knew was right to do before God ever contacted either one of them. Doing what is right to do as spelled out by our Creator is the very foundation of self rule. It is often called the Law of the Heart, knowing right from wrong behavior.

President Andrew Jackson stated: “If the Supreme Court is the final arbiter of what the Constitution says, then we have ceased to be our own rulers (under God), and the Supreme Court is our ruler.” It is not only the Supreme Court that has busied itself with telling us what to do and how to do it, the lower courts are no better than the Supreme Court. They make rulings that defy common sense when viewed from God’s teaching and the Constitution. Freedom of speech is suppressed in many areas. Those who speak are accused of hate speech; while it is agreed that vulgarities and profane utterances should not be uttered, freedom of speech allows such words.

In that regard, the Bible says that self control is obedience to Christ. People who believe in God will follow the Word. Paul wrote: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (II Corinthians 10:3-6) Even those not in Christ can benefit from not engaging in vulgar and profane speech.

Individuals and groups are easily offended and they run to the government for redress even though what was written or said may well be the truth. The individuals and groups do not want to self rule and look to the government to solve the problems they create for themselves. They do not understand or they refuse to believe that the same law or rule that controls their opponents will one day control them. When anyone or group refuses to follow self rule, the government will eventually rule over everyone.

© 07-01-2013 DEC